Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 3 › Verse 7
Bhagavad Gītā 3.7: Doing it the right way
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate'rjuna
karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
But one who, regulating the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages the organs of action in karma-yoga, without attachment, excels. This is the positive picture: not suppressing activity but disciplined, unattached engagement.
For children
Krishna says: “The best way is to use your mind to stay in charge of yourself, then do your work happily, without being greedy for what you get.”
Kṛṣṇa contrasts the pretender of 3.6 with someone who truly follows the path of action.
Word by word
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा — But one who uses the mind to guide the senses
- yaḥ tu: but one who
- indriya: sense
- manas: mind
नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन — and then gets to work, Arjuna
- niyamya: guiding, controlling
- ārabhate: begins, takes up
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगम् — with hands and feet on the path of action
- karmendriya: organs of action
- karmayoga: the path of action
असक्तः स विशिष्यते — not clinging, is the one who stands out
- asakta: not clinging
- viśiṣyate: is better, stands out
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.